Latest Judgments of the Federal Supreme Court
Here you will find the most recent judgments of the Federal Supreme Court (FSCS) from bger.ch. For the first three judgments, we present detailed summaries with facts, considerations, and dispositive parts. For the further judgments, you will find a summary of the facts. The full summaries of all judgments are available in the Lexplorer portal. There you can configure your newsletter and receive the latest judgments individually tailored to your areas of law.
4A_217/2026: Non-admission of the appeal concerning free legal aid
Summary of the Facts
A.________ filed a payment claim on November 17, 2025, with the Tribunal de première instance genevois against B.________ Sàrl and C.________ SA. He demanded damages exceeding CHF 10,000,000 and accused his former legal representative of serious professional breaches of duty. An application for free legal aid for the proceedings was rejected by the lower court on December 10, 2025, as the claim was deemed obviously hopeless. An appeal filed by A.________ against this decision with the Cour de justice of the Canton of Geneva was dismissed on April 9, 2026. A.________ then brought the matter before the Federal Supreme Court.
Summary of the Considerations
The Federal Supreme Court examines the admissibility of the appeal ex officio. The decision to refuse free legal aid constitutes an independently challengeable interlocutory ruling (Art. 93 para. 1 lit. a BGG). The Federal Supreme Court requires that an appeal contains sufficient reasoning (Art. 42 BGG). The appellant must substantively explain how the contested decision violates federal law. The appeal does not meet these requirements as the argumentation is merely appellate and contains no legally grounded criticism related to the facts. The appellant neither shows that the lower court abused its discretion nor substantively alleges arbitrariness. Consequently, the appeal is considered obviously unfounded and declared inadmissible.
Summary of the Dispositive
The appeal was declared inadmissible and the application for free legal aid was dismissed. Furthermore, the court costs were imposed on the appellant without awarding party compensation.
2C_642/2025: Non-admission of the appeal concerning sanction and order to improve internal procedures
Summary of the Facts
The A.________ SA, operator of a casino with a concession B, was sanctioned by the Swiss Federal Gaming Board (ESBK) due to insufficient measures to prevent excessive gambling. After the ESBK found during several inspections in 2022 that the operator violated its legal duty to prevent socially harmful effects of gambling in multiple cases, it imposed an administrative sanction of CHF 570,850 (4% of the gross gaming revenue for the 2021 fiscal year). Additionally, the operator was ordered to improve its internal procedures to prevent similar incidents in the future. A.________ SA unsuccessfully appealed this decision before the Federal Administrative Court and filed an appeal with the Federal Supreme Court.
Summary of the Considerations
The Federal Supreme Court examined ex officio its own jurisdiction and the admissibility of the appeal. It found that all formal requirements were met and the appeal admissible. The scope of legal review was explained. The Federal Supreme Court reviews compliance with federal law, whereby a freedom-restrictive examination of fundamental rights violations is only permitted with sufficient reasoning. The dispute concerns confirmation of the sanction and order approved by the Federal Administrative Court. The Federal Administrative Court had found that the appellant failed to fulfill its duties regarding nine players for socially protective intervention. The delayed or omitted exclusion from gaming occurred despite clear signs of excessive gaming behavior of the involved persons. The statutory duties for casinos to implement social protection measures were thoroughly presented. The appellant criticized the evaluation of its evidence by the lower court. The Federal Supreme Court saw no violation of the principle of free evaluation of evidence, as the evidence was insufficient to refute the expressed suspicions. The Federal Supreme Court clarified that the duty to exclude from gaming exists upon justified suspicion and the identified omissions by the appellant are more serious than mere negligence. The amount of the sanction was deemed proportionate. An amount of CHF 570,850 (4% of gross gaming revenue) is within the range of medium-level offenses according to legal provisions and takes into account the appellant’s behavior before and during official interventions. The order to revise internal processes was confirmed as sufficiently precise and legally unobjectionable.
Summary of the Dispositive
The appeal was dismissed and court costs of CHF 10,000 were imposed on the appellant. The judgment was also served to the parties and the Federal Administrative Court.
8C_332/2026: Non-admission of the appeal concerning economic social assistance
Summary of the Facts
The appellant challenged the cessation of economic social assistance and the recovery of unduly received benefits amounting to CHF 3,995.68, which had been confirmed by the district council of Dietikon. The Administrative Court of the Canton of Zurich did not admit the appeal due to lack of formally proper reasoning.
Summary of the Considerations
- **E.1:** According to Art. 42 para. 1 and 2 BGG, an appeal must, among other things, contain the requests and their justification. In the case of cantonal law, the review is limited to violations of constitutional rights, which requires a qualified obligation to plead. - **E.2:** The cantonal court pointed out to the appellant that the request and justification are formal validity requirements for an appeal. Despite being granted an extension, the appellant did not submit sufficient reasoning. - **E.3:** The appellant does not explain before the Federal Supreme Court how the cantonal court's procedure violated constitutional rights. Catching up on missed points in the appeal procedure is insufficient. - **E.4:** Due to lack of reasoning, the Federal Supreme Court did not admit the appeal pursuant to Art. 108 para. 1 lit. b BGG. - **E.5:** The application for free legal aid was rejected due to the hopelessness of the appeal. However, the court exceptionally waived the imposition of court costs (Art. 66 para. 1 sentence 2 BGG).
Summary of the Dispositive
The appeal was not considered, and the application for free legal aid was dismissed without court costs being imposed.
1C_296/2026: Non-admission of the appeal concerning the referendum on the Sustainability Initiative
Summary of the Facts
Boris Etter filed a voting appeal in connection with the federal referendum of June 14, 2026, on the popular initiative "No 10-Million Switzerland!" (Sustainability Initiative) initially with the Government Council of the Canton of Zurich. This authority did not admit the appeal because reviewing the raised objections was not within its jurisdiction. Etter then filed an appeal with the Federal Supreme Court with various motions to postpone the vote, declare it invalid, or make findings regarding the information situation.
Full summary of the judgment can be found in the portal.
8C_352/2026: Non-admission of the appeal concerning remittance decision in the area of social assistance
Summary of the Facts
A.________ filed a public law appeal against a remittance decision of the Cantonal Court of Basel-Landschaft. This court had generally upheld her appeal against the recovery of municipal contributions but remitted the actual reimbursement amount for reassessment to the municipality of Sissach. The Federal Supreme Court had to examine whether the appeal against this remittance decision could be admitted.
Full summary of the judgment can be found in the portal.
8C_219/2026: Non-admission of the appeal concerning payment of supplementary benefits
Summary of the Facts
The appellants A.A.________ and B.A.________ appealed a decision of the Cour de justice de la République et canton de Genève, Social Insurance Chamber, dated February 16, 2026. In that decision, their appeal against the order of the Service des prestations complémentaires (SPC) dated July 2, 2025, was dismissed. This order terminated the payment of supplementary benefits as of May 31, 2018, due to lack of residence and habitual stay in Geneva, and demanded the repayment of CHF 65,583 for unlawfully received benefits (including health insurance contributions and medical costs).
Full summary of the judgment can be found in the portal.
4A_440/2025: Non-admission of the appeal concerning graduated rent
Summary of the Facts
The appellant A.________ rented an apartment from C.________ SA starting July 16, 2019. The lease included a graduated rent, whereby the net rent was to increase from CHF 960 to CHF 1,350 starting August 1, 2022. The appellant criticized the ambiguity of the official rent formula used. The rental court ruled that the second rent step was void due to formal defects. The lower court, however, rejected the appellant’s request.
Full summary of the judgment can be found in the portal.
9C_231/2026: Non-admission of the appeal concerning tax law
Summary of the Facts
The appellant A.________ challenged a judgment of the Cantonal Court of Valais concerning cantonal and municipal taxes as well as the direct federal tax for the 2015 tax period. In her appeal, she also requested the granting of suspensive effect "for all ongoing enforcement and attachment measures".
Full summary of the judgment can be found in the portal.
4A_22/2026: Non-admission of the appeal concerning arbitration proceedings and employment relationships
Summary of the Facts
The appeal concerns an arbitration proceeding initiated by the Parity Commission of the Main Construction Industry in Geneva (CPGO). Numerous violations by A.________ Sàrl were found, including non-compliance with working hours, insufficient employee compensation, and violations concerning holiday compensation. This resulted in a contractual sanction of CHF 67,000. A.________ Sàrl denied the allegations and appealed the arbitral award of the Geneva Arbitration Court of the Main Construction Industry.
Full summary of the judgment can be found in the portal.
5A_433/2026: Non-admission of the appeal concerning the appointment of a child representative
Summary of the Facts
The appellant, father of a son born in 2013 for whom guardianship is established, appealed a decision of the Cantonal Court of St. Gallen that confirmed the appointment of a child representative within divorce proceedings. The appellant requested the annulment of this decision and the remittance of the case for examination of the necessity and other aspects of the child representation. He also applied for free legal aid and interim measures.
Full summary of the judgment can be found in the portal.
5A_442/2026: Non-admission of the appeal concerning protective custody
Summary of the Facts
The appellant was placed in protective custody with a medical referral and decision of the Child and Adult Protection Authority (KESB) Engadin/Südtäler. The Cantonal Court of Graubünden confirmed this decision, insofar as it admitted the appeal. With his appeal to the Federal Supreme Court, the appellant questioned the protective custody as well as other matters (disclosure of his assets, annulment of guardianship).
Full summary of the judgment can be found in the portal.
6B_689/2025: Non-admission of the appeal concerning commercial fraud and embezzlement
Summary of the Facts
A.________ is accused in connection with her former activity at B.________ AG of having unlawfully transferred around CHF 920,000 to her own accounts between 2003 and 2018, including through double use of collective payment orders and exchange of payment slips. She is also alleged to have improperly paid CHF 14,800 to a third party and embezzled CHF 15,960 from the cash register of B.________ AG. Additionally, she made false statements in accounting and forged documents, causing financial damage to B.________ AG and third parties. The District Court of Zurich sentenced A.________ in 2023 to a conditional prison term of two years and imposed a five-year ban from the country. The Cantonal Court of Zurich increased the sentence on appeal in 2025 to 36 months imprisonment, 26 months of which were suspended. A.________ appealed the decision to the Federal Supreme Court.
Full summary of the judgment can be found in the portal.
6B_583/2025: Non-admission of the appeal concerning multiple violations of the aCovid-19-SBüV
Summary of the Facts
A.________ applied for a Covid-19 loan during the pandemic and committed not to grant or repay loans. Contrary to this, he repaid loan debts to a close person between May and July 2020 and granted loans to an LLC he owned between October 2020 and December 2022. The lower courts fined him, applying the more lenient Covid-19 Solidarity Guarantee Act (Covid-19-SBüG). The Federal Supreme Court reviewed the application of the aCovid-19-SBüV.
Full summary of the judgment can be found in the portal.
6B_739/2025: Non-admission of the appeal concerning attempted grievous bodily harm and ban from the country
Summary of the Facts
The appellant was sentenced by the Criminal Court of Lucerne, among other charges, for attempted grievous bodily harm with diminished responsibility to a prison term of 22 months and a nine-year ban from the country. The Cantonal Court of Lucerne confirmed the conviction, reduced the prison sentence to 20 months, and imposed a six-year ban from the country. The appellant had severely injured the respondent 2 with punches and kicks.
Full summary of the judgment can be found in the portal.
1C_219/2026: Non-admission of the appeal concerning revision of a non-admission decision
Summary of the Facts
The appellant A.________ applied twice to the Administrative Court of the Canton of Thurgau for revision of an earlier decision (dated September 17, 2025) that had not admitted his appeal. The Administrative Court did not admit either the first or the second revision request. The appellant filed an appeal with the Federal Supreme Court against the second non-admission decision (dated March 18, 2026).
Full summary of the judgment can be found in the portal.
5A_432/2026: Non-admission of the appeal concerning recusal request in divorce proceedings
Summary of the Facts
In connection with divorce proceedings, the appellant requested the recusal of the judge leading the proceedings. This request was rejected by the President of the District Court of St. Gallen. The appellant appealed this decision, which was dismissed by the Cantonal Court of St. Gallen insofar as it was admitted. The appellant then filed an appeal with the Federal Supreme Court requesting the annulment of the cantonal court’s decision and made various procedural motions.
Full summary of the judgment can be found in the portal.
4A_9/2026: Non-admission of the appeal concerning disclosure of a description protocol in a patent dispute
Summary of the Facts
B.________ AG, holder of European patent EP 1 858 930 B1, claims that the manufacturing process of A.________ AG for the production of the drug Ferinject® infringes the patent. At the request of B.________ AG, the Federal Patent Court ordered a detailed description of the manufacturing process of A.________ AG. After this measure, the description protocol was partially redacted, upon which both parties filed motions concerning the scope of disclosure. After thorough weighing of secrecy and disclosure interests, the Federal Patent Court decided to disclose the cleaned, partially redacted protocol to B.________ AG. This decision was contested by A.________ AG before the Federal Supreme Court.
Full summary of the judgment can be found in the portal.
4A_444/2025: Non-admission of the appeal concerning substitute performance and damages
Summary of the Facts
A.A.________ and B.A.________ signed a contract in 2009 for the conversion of a property into a condominium complex, built by C.________ SA and designed by D.________, an architect. After completion, defects appeared, especially moisture problems. Despite multiple correspondences and a court evidence procedure to clarify the defects, the work by the contractors was considered defective. The owners decided to carry out the work themselves and demanded the contractors cover the costs.
Full summary of the judgment can be found in the portal.
5A_435/2026: Non-admission of the appeal concerning transfer of vaccination authority
Summary of the Facts
The unmarried and separated parents of a child born in 2019, who share joint parental custody, could not agree on the child’s vaccination. The KESB Biel transferred sole decision-making authority on vaccination matters to the mother, who wishes to carry out vaccinations according to BAG recommendations. The father’s appeal against this was dismissed by the Cantonal Court of Bern, which also denied him free legal aid.
Full summary of the judgment can be found in the portal.
9C_8/2026: Non-admission of the appeal concerning disability insurance and helplessness allowance
Summary of the Facts
The appellant A.________, born in 1969, applied in April 2021 for disability insurance benefits, later also for a helplessness allowance. After various medical assessments, including an expert opinion from the CEMEDEX SA center, the IV office of the Canton of Vaud granted him a limited pension (58% of a full pension) from March 2022 to August 2023. It denied entitlement to helplessness allowance. The cantonal court dismissed the appeal against this decision.
Full summary of the judgment can be found in the portal.
2C_96/2026: Non-admission of the appeal concerning animal protection and cat ownership
Summary of the Facts
The appellant A.________ acquired the Bengal cat "Pearl" together with B.________ in 2024. After an accident in February 2025, the cat was presented to the veterinarian in a severely traumatized state. According to veterinary medical reports, the injuries did not correspond to the appellant’s explanation. The cantonal veterinary service of the Canton of Geneva then ordered the preventive and later the definitive seizure of the cat, coupled with a three-year ban for the appellant to keep cats. The appellant challenged these decisions, which eventually led to the appeal before the Federal Supreme Court.
Full summary of the judgment can be found in the portal.
5A_58/2025: Non-admission of the appeal concerning provisional maintenance payments
Summary of the Facts
The couple, both born in 1964, married since 1993, have three now adult children. After their separation in 2020, the maintenance payment was set at CHF 11,000 per month in an earlier decision; this was temporarily reduced to CHF 9,000 in 2022 by agreement. The wife requested a return to payments of CHF 11,000 starting July 1, 2023. The lower court raised the maintenance back to CHF 11,000 per month, reasoning that the husband had insufficient evidence of his income and asset situation.
Full summary of the judgment can be found in the portal.
1C_220/2026: Non-admission of the appeal concerning revision in a construction matter
Summary of the Facts
The appellant A.A.________ challenged the decision of the Administrative Court of the Canton of Thurgau dated March 18, 2026, which did not admit a revision request. The Administrative Court had previously rejected a first revision request and considered the renewed request to be vexatious and abusive. The Federal Supreme Court examined the appeal in connection with these decisions.
Full summary of the judgment can be found in the portal.
4A_34/2026: Non-admission of the appeal concerning tenant eviction
Summary of the Facts
The A.________ AG (tenant, appellant) and B.________ AG (landlord, respondent) concluded a lease agreement for office space and parking spaces in 2016. Due to outstanding rent payments, the landlord terminated the lease as of August 31, 2025, based on Art. 257d CO. The landlord's request for protection in clear cases was granted, and the first instance ordered the eviction. The appeal against this decision was rejected by the Cantonal Court. The appellant claims to have a counterclaim against the respondent for overpaid rents and rent payments for not delivered leased objects, which she wanted to offset.
Full summary of the judgment can be found in the portal.
4A_24/2026: Non-admission of the appeal concerning discrimination in the recruitment process
Summary of the Facts
A.________ applied in spring 2024 for a position advertised by B.________ Sagl. After several selection steps, she was rejected with the reasoning that she did not meet the expectations regarding communicative and persuasive skills. The claim for compensation due to discrimination was asserted in various instances but was dismissed by both the first instance Pretore and the II Civil Chamber of the Appellate Court of the Canton of Ticino.
Full summary of the judgment can be found in the portal.
5D_17/2026: Non-admission of the appeal concerning opposition against a seizure order
Summary of the Facts
Heirs A.________ and B.________, who form the community of heirs after C.________, contested a cantonal decision in an opposition matter against a seizure order. Their submission concerns the decision of the lower court below to dismiss their appeal for formal reasons.
Full summary of the judgment can be found in the portal.
5D_18/2026: Non-admission of the appeal concerning cost decision in marriage protection proceedings
Summary of the Facts
The appellant had filed various motions in marriage protection proceedings, including suspension of the sale of the family home and return of personal belongings. The District Court of Schwyz declared the proceedings moot and imposed costs on the respondent. The Cantonal Court of Schwyz reversed this and imposed costs on the appellant, against which she filed an appeal with the Federal Supreme Court.
Full summary of the judgment can be found in the portal.
4A_402/2025: Non-admission of the appeal concerning statute of limitations defense
Summary of the Facts
The judgment concerns a civil dispute in which C.________ demanded damages and compensation from several defendants, including A.________ and B.________. These claims relate to physical and psychological harm following a severe group aggression in 2008. Several criminal convictions were pronounced in this context. In the appeal proceedings, the Cantonal Court of Valais declared the statute of limitations objection late and imposed a payment obligation on the defendants.
Full summary of the judgment can be found in the portal.
4A_480/2025: Federal Supreme Court decision on the statute of limitations of a claim
Summary of the Facts
The appellant was ordered by a 2012 judgment of the District Court of Rheinfelden to pay party compensation. In 2019, the respondent initiated enforcement proceedings at the U.________ debt enforcement office, which the office eventually discontinued due to lack of local jurisdiction. After several years, the respondent filed a new enforcement request. The dispute concerned whether the original enforcement interrupted the statute of limitations of the claim.
Full summary of the judgment can be found in the portal.
7B_793/2025: Non-admission of the appeal concerning free legal aid
Summary of the Facts
The private plaintiff A.________ appealed against a judgment of the Toggenburg District Court acquitting B.________ of multiple forgery charges. In the appeal proceedings, A.________ applied for (partial) free legal aid. The Cantonal Court of St. Gallen rejected this application and required A.________ to provide security, otherwise the appeal would not be admitted. A.________ then filed a criminal appeal with the Federal Supreme Court.
Full summary of the judgment can be found in the portal.
5A_265/2026: Non-admission of the appeal concerning bankruptcy opening over A.________ GmbH
Summary of the Facts
A.________ GmbH, a limited liability company, ceased its activity in vehicle trade and service and went bankrupt due to unpaid VAT debts. On appeal, the Cantonal Court of Zurich confirmed the bankruptcy opening. The appellant claimed before the Federal Supreme Court that she had credibly demonstrated her solvency, thus fulfilling the requirements for lifting the bankruptcy pursuant to Art. 174 para. 2 SchKG.
Full summary of the judgment can be found in the portal.
4A_396/2025: Upholding the appeal concerning burden of proof distribution
Summary of the Facts
A.________ SA concluded a transport contract with B.________ SA for the transport of wooden doors. During transport, the doors were damaged by heavy rain. Subsequently, disputes arose particularly concerning the evidentiary situation about the damages and related claims for damages. The first instance mostly dismissed B.________ SA's claim for damages, as it had not fulfilled its burden of proof regarding the door damages. The appellate instance altered the judgment and awarded partial damages to B.________ SA, accepting simplified evidence.
Full summary of the judgment can be found in the portal.
5A_459/2026: Non-admission of the appeal concerning wage garnishment
Summary of the Facts
The appellant A.________ appealed against a wage garnishment ordered by the Veveyse debt enforcement office. The cantonal supervisory authority, the Chamber for Debt Enforcement and Bankruptcy Matters of the Cantonal Court of Fribourg, dismissed the appeal on April 28, 2026. A.________ then filed an appeal with the Federal Supreme Court on May 19, 2026.
Full summary of the judgment can be found in the portal.
1C_374/2025: Non-admission of the appeal concerning water protection exemption permit for construction project
Summary of the Facts
The Building Directorate of the Canton of Zurich refused a water protection exemption permit to a community of heirs for the construction of a semi-detached house. This decision was confirmed by the Building Appeals Court and later by the Administrative Court of the Canton of Zurich. The appellant, the sole heir of the property, requested the issuance of the permit in an appeal to the Federal Supreme Court.
Full summary of the judgment can be found in the portal.
5A_431/2026: Non-admission of the appeal concerning free legal aid in divorce proceedings
Summary of the Facts
Within divorce proceedings, the appellant applied for free legal aid, in particular the waiver of costs for the release of a data carrier. While free legal aid was generally granted, the district court rejected the waiver of costs and other ancillary requests. The Cantonal Court of St. Gallen confirmed this decision. The appellant then appealed to the Federal Supreme Court, made various motions, and also applied for free legal aid at the federal level.
Full summary of the judgment can be found in the portal.
6B_28/2026: Non-admission of the appeal concerning fraud and forgery
Summary of the Facts
The appellant A.________ was convicted by the District Court of Zurich on May 13, 2024, for multiple forgeries and fraud to 24 months imprisonment and a conditional fine, and ordered to pay damages to B.________ SA. The Cantonal Court of Zurich largely confirmed the convictions but adjusted the fine and the amount of compensation. The appellant requested the Federal Supreme Court to overturn the judgment and remit the case to the Cantonal Court.
Full summary of the judgment can be found in the portal.
5A_443/2026: Non-admission of the appeal concerning delay in proceedings regarding personality rights violation
Summary of the Facts
A.________ GmbH filed a delay of proceedings complaint with the Federal Supreme Court on May 18, 2026. It complained that since filing a lawsuit for personality rights violation on September 12, 2025, at the Cantonal Court of Obwalden, no significant procedural steps had been taken. The Federal Supreme Court was requested to instruct the Cantonal Court to promptly continue the proceedings.
Full summary of the judgment can be found in the portal.